RULES AND ETHICS 2025
NOTE: Our rules for 2025 NPL run are partly based on our rules from the successful 2022 NPL run - read about them HERE
In a few words... In 2022, the biggest dreams were to do the historically first wilderness crossing of Norway and quality filming of the whole incredibly hard process. Therefore speed was not so important. Today we know the clean crossing of Norway is possible, and as every our NPL trip we've done before, we will make it harder for us ;-) This time we will go after even stricter rules and cleaner style, to make the final version of the new NPL trail the most attractive possible. We will film a bit less and focus more on the speed of the run.
TRANSPARENCY
I know, that if I want to try to set up a benchmark route, it must be absolutely clear how I did it. We think that it is not good if somebody claims certain big achievement, which is very hard, without any evidence or bulletproof credibility. Especially today, when many people would do anything "to look cool". We'll do everything in the most transparent way possible.
How?
Again I will take thousands of film shots and photos. Every hour, every day, every stage or important place. I will again film all the asphalt road crossings. I will wear precise watch which will exactly document my every step and I will share it after every day - if internet signal will be available. I will also again have a GPS tracking device, so you will be able to see my position every time. If you want, you can even meet me on the trail. We will share daily maps and also photo and video reports here on this website and on social media. Simply said, we will gladly share everything important. If we make a mistake or fail, we'll say it honestly. If we manage to do something cool, we'll say it as well. We have strict rules and nothing to hide - therefore we stand behind our big words.
Each meter of the route will be captured by 2 precise GPS devices - Garmin Forerunner 945 and Garmin InReach Mini.
NO ASPHALT / CHOOSING THE ROUTE
The key factor is the balance between pure style (no asphalt, staying only in Norway etc.), interestingness (variety and beauty of terrains) and sport and also fun factor. My immodest dream is to establish a clean trail across Norway which has it all. A trail, which will be possibly repeated by many people. Hard, wild, logical, diverse and absolutely beautiful.
Basic rule is easy. If I can avoid asphalt roads, I do it. First let me say a few words about the history of the development of this "asphalt aspect".
NPL 2022
In 2022 I had a dream to keep asphalt roads under 1% of the whole run across Norway. 1% = 30 km out of 3000km.
I planned to accept for example the asphalt bridges over big Norwegian rivers and the long undersea Nordkapp tunnel. But the result turned out to be very different :)
Here is an excerpt of the Rules and Ethics 2022 text and related photos:
"Good example is about 200 m of asphalt bridge called Jåsund brua over the sea strait Jåsundet on Day 1. Then there is 1 km of asphalt while crossing the town Lyngdal also on Day 1, which will allow me to start my ideal clean, wild and beautiful way towards Setesdal Heiene. Unless you want to swim, you also have to cross big rivers over bridges in the main Norwegian valleys. For example crossing big river Lågen over a bridge that goes through the town Ringebu or crossing the river Glomma over the old bridge in village Atna. See the gallery below. And of course, you simply have to run about 7 km through the undersea North Cape Tunnel between the mainland and the island Magerøya, the home of the northernmost tip of Norway - Nordkapp."
But then just 2 days before the start of the 2022 NPL run we bought a small inflatable rubber boat and after a lot of thinking, risking, and enormous and sometimes painful effort I managed to keep asphalt under 1 km! How?
In total, during the 2022 run I used only about 940 meters on asphalt. This distance was divided into 490 meters of crossing the town Lyngdal (planned as the part of the story), unplanned 80 m of asphalt roads during crossing Ljosland and about 75 asphalt road crossings on the way to Nordkapp.
All the rivers were either waded or crossed on non-asphalt bridges or crossed by a small rubber boat. The Nordkapp tunnel was skipped too, I used inflatable packraft to cross 10 km over the very dangerous sea strait Magerøysundet, full of currents.
NPL 2025
2025 goals are the same. If I can avoid asphalt roads, I do it. There is not so much to improve in terms of amount of "asphalt meters". I only want to cross the asphalt roads and then immediately continue ideally on marked trails, unmarked paths, through pathless wild nature or sometimes on small forest/mountain gravel roads. Right from the start at the Nesvarden rock in Lindesnes.
What I am torn about is crossing the town of Lyngdal. I am able to totally bypass this small town, and it is not even super special town. But... during all my 3 previous NPL 2019/2021/2022 attempts I went through it. It was my first and also the last town on the way North. I took it as a "symbolical moment of saying good bye to the civilization", cross willingly these 490 meters on asphalt and disappear into the mountains which start north of the town. It feels very special knowing that this is the last "bigger" civilization for the next several thousands of kilometers.
Regarding the mountain village Ljosland, I will skip it probably totally and stay in the mountains.
So the goal for NPL 2025 and also for the final version of the new official NPL trail is, again, to keep the asphalt count under 1 km, and maybe if (I decide to skip Lyngdal) even under 500 meters necessary for the 70-80 road crossings.
Another goal is to reduce the amount of the mountain or forest gravel roads. Some of them I definitely want to keep, they do lead through incredibly scenic old farm lands or other atmospheric places, which makes this trail so unique and diverse.
Going to a shop in a village on asphalt is OK, but then I will return back to the path and start from where I have left. If I can skip the 4-6 meters on asphalt road by walking in the river flowing under the bridge, I will do it, as I did many times in 2022.
CLIMBING THE 12 ICONIC MOUNTAINS
The goal is to get again to the top of many impressive mountains along the way north. This time I will try to climb all the important mountains I visited on all my different NPL attempts in the past combined. Here is the wishlist
Hårteigen, Kyrkja, Galdhøpiggen, Glittertind, Ruten, Midtre Sølen, Store Svuku, Skjækerhatten, Okssolten,Gasskatjåhkkå, Halti and Gárdevárri.
If the weather is really very bad and seriously dangerous (thunderstorm with lightning, ice, too extremely strong wind), while crossing the area, and Petr would have to wait more than 1 day for better weather, he will have to skip the most technical summits, where you have to climb on steep rocks or use ropes. This is not a climbing expedition and instead he will climb other remarkable mountains along the way in OK weather, like for example: Sankt Pål, Raudberg, Suletinden, Ruten, Dyrhaugane etc.
The dot at the top of majestic Kyrkja (2032m) is Petr during his 1253 km long and one month lasting training trip in the summer 2021.
RIVERS AND LAKES
As stated above, Petr will skip all the asphalt bridges. He either wades the rivers or uses a canoe or a packraft to cross them. According to his speed and final decision, he might also do about 22 km of packrafting down on the river Reisa from Mollisfossen to Svartfoss. This is not making the trip easier! Such packraft trip would make both Petr's total and also purely his running trip longer, as from there, it is another detour. But a very cool detour, more beautiful than if he would just cross Reisadalen by Nedrefosshytta and continued towards Alta.
Radka, the support team member of NPL 2021/22, packrafting on Reisa river in June 2022, just one month before the start of NPL 2022.
SWEDEN AND FINLAND
Similarly as above - I will stay in Norway all the time! Most NPL thru-hikers use up to 300 kilometres of easier and well marked trails in Sweden or Finland. They also lead across perfect nature. Just not in Norway. It is totally fine. But my immodest dream in 2022 was to find a way only through Norway, also in its wildest pathless part which I call "Norwegian Yosemite" (read about it here ). And I succeeded. This "clean Norwegian variant" is longer and so much harder. And I will do it again in 2025.
Other hikers who go long stretches through easier terrains in Sweden or Finland also experience cool Nature, but then in my opinion they can't call it Norge på langs route.
Rocky west coast of the narrowest part of Norway is extremely hard to cross. Here most NPL hikers use asphalt road E6 or do detour through easier Sweden.
RESPECT - NOT A RACE (yet)
Yes, for me personally, in 2022 the most valuable way of doing NPL was to do it in the clean off-road style and together with filming it in a professional way. Only both together! This ultimate idea fulfills my sporty soul. In 2025 I will focus less on filming and more on the speed of the run.
At the same time, we absolutely appreciate everyone, who starts NPL and finishes it within the given rule - using own power only to move forward. Also those who walk or run partly through Sweden or Finland. In such case you cannot call it NPL, but it is a great achievement and experience indeed too!
Everybody has its own style, dreams and needs. Each successful and fair crossing of NPL deserves total respect, even if you "only" walk on the road. The only valid general indicator is how much fun or joy you have. NPL is NOT a competition.
FASTEST KNOWN TIME
Certain kind of competition or a record can start only if there is clearly given exact route and style, which people can then start to repeat. First then can people start their FKT (Fastest Known Time) attempts. Before this standardized route is done, it's a bit childish to call any NPL a world record etc., because I dare to say, that EVERY NPL that has been done so far during last 60 years is "kind of a world record". Because everyone who did NPL did it in his/her own route and style. First there has to be a clear exact route and style and then there can start a competition.
Other thing is to try to get across Norway as fast as possible, no matter the route or style you choose. For this, only final time and respecting the rules (own power only, in Norway only) matter.
Yes my immodest dream is to set up such a benchmark NPL route. A clean, hard and mind-blowing one...
In 2025 I will re-run my 2022 NPL path, shape it to perfection, set the first FKT and give this trail challenge to the thru-hiking and trail running community as the most amazing trail challenge you can experience in Europe.
But not to compete! I want to create this trail in this hard style, because I think it is the biggest fun and challenge, which can bring out "the best of me" for future life and for even more daring projects. I simply just want to have this raw experience... NPL, as I feel it, should be first of all about disconnecting from everyday hectic life in the crazy western society. I believe long journey through the wildest nature is the best way to find out what really matters in life and to restore full mental, physical and spiritual health.
I believe that long journey in the wild nature is the best way to find out what really matters in life and to restore full physical and spiritual health.